Wire Reel Assembly

ABSTRACT

A wire reel assembly includes a wire reel defining an axis and including first and second reel halves having first and second barrels and first and second flanges extending from the first and second barrels, respectively. The first barrel has an inner surface that is formed with a first engaging member protruding radially and inwardly therefrom. The second barrel has an outer surface that is formed with a second engaging member protruding radially and outwardly therefrom. The first barrel is sleeved on and is rotatable relative to the second barrel between a first angular position, in which the first and second engaging members disengage each other, and a second angular position, in which the first and second engaging members engage each other.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The invention relates to a wire reel assembly, more particularly to a wire reel assembly including first and second reel halves that are detachably connected to each other.

2. Description of the Related Art

U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,333 discloses a conventional wire reel that is formed with a pair of identical reel members made of plastic material, which are detachably connected to each other. Each reel member is provided with a series of circumferentially spaced barrel sections having tongues that engage a selected one of two sets of slots on the opposite reel member. The two sets of slots have different levels so as to permit length adjustment between flanges of the reel members. Since the barrel sections are required to be relatively thick for forming the slots, the amount of the material required for making the reel members is relatively large, which results in an increase in the production cost and the weight of the wire reel.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a wire reel assembly that can overcome the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art.

According to the present invention, the wire reel assembly comprises a wire reel defining an axis and including first and second reel halves which have axially extending first and second barrels and first and second flanges extending radially and outwardly from the first and second barrels, respectively. The first and second barrels are coaxially aligned along the axis. The first barrel has an inner surface that is formed with a first engaging member protruding radially and inwardly therefrom. The second barrel has an outer surface that is formed with a second engaging member protruding radially and outwardly therefrom. The first barrel is sleeved on and is rotatable relative to the second barrel between a first angular position, in which the first and second engaging members disengage each other, and a second angular position, in which the first and second engaging members engage each other.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a wire reel assembly according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of first and second grip parts of the preferred embodiment;

FIGS. 3 to 8 are respectively perspective and fragmentary schematic views illustrating consecutive steps of how first and second reel halves of the preferred embodiment are assembled into an assembly in a state of use;

FIG. 9 is an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment; and

FIGS. 10 and 11 are perspective views illustrating consecutive steps of how the first and second reel halves are assembled into an assembly in a state for storage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 9, the preferred embodiment of a wire reel assembly according to the present invention is shown to include a wire reel and first and second grip parts 4, 5. The wire reel defines an axis 21 and includes first and second reel halves 2, 3 which have axially extending first and second barrels 22, 31 and first and second flanges 23, 32 extending radially and outwardly from the first and second barrels 22, 31, respectively. The first and second barrels 22, 31 are coaxially aligned along the axis 21. The first barrel 22 has an inner surface that is formed with a first engaging member 24 protruding radially and inwardly therefrom. The second barrel 31 has an outer surface that is formed with a second engaging member 33 protruding radially and outwardly therefrom. The first barrel 22 is sleeved on and is rotatable relative to the second barrel 31 between a first angular position (see FIGS. 5 and 6), in which the first and second engaging members 24, 33 disengage each other, and a second angular position (see FIGS. 7 and 8), in which the first and second engaging members 24, 33 engage each other.

In this embodiment, the inner surface of the first barrel 22 is formed with three inner ribs 242 protruding radially and inwardly therefrom, displaced angularly from each other, and cooperatively defining the first engaging member 24. Each of the inner ribs 242 is formed with a retaining recess 243. The second barrel 31 has an annular base part 311 and three arm parts 312 extending axially from the annular base part 311 and displaced angularly from each other. Each of the arm parts 312 has a free end formed with an outer rib 332 that protrudes radially and outwardly therefrom and that has a first circumferential end which is formed with a retaining protrusion 333 protruding axially therefrom. The outer ribs 332 of the arm parts 312 cooperatively define the second engaging member 33, and the retaining protrusion 333 respectively engage the recesses 243 in the inner ribs 242 when the first barrel 22 is disposed at the second angular position. It should be noted that the number of the first and second engaging members 24, 33 is not limited to three as disclosed herein. The second barrel 31 further has a plurality of axial stoppers 331 protruding axially from the base part 311 and disposed alternately with the arm parts 312.

The inner surface of the first barrel 22 is further formed with three guiding ribs 241 protruding radially and inwardly therefrom and disposed alternately with and axially spaced apart from the inner ribs 242. The outer ribs 332 are respectively in sliding contact with the guiding ribs 241 when the first barrel 22 is disposed at the first angular position, as best shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. Each of the axial stoppers 331 has a round end disposed adjacent to and confronting a respective one of the guiding ribs 241 (see FIGS. 7 and 8) when the first barrel 22 is disposed at the second angular position so as to enhance the prevention of undesired axial movement of the first and second reel halves 2, 3.

Referring further to FIGS. 7 and 8, each of the inner ribs 242 has opposite first and second circumferential ends. The recess 243 in each of the inner ribs 242 is disposed adjacent to the first circumferential end of the respective inner rib 242. The second circumferential end of each of the inner ribs 242 is formed with a stopper 244 protruding axially therefrom. Each of the outer ribs 332 further has a second circumferential end 334 opposite to the first circumferential end of the respective one of the outer ribs 332 and abutting against the stopper 244 of a respective one of the inner ribs 242 when the first barrel 22 is disposed at the second angular position.

Referring to FIG. 2, in combination with FIG. 1, the first and second grip parts 4, 5 are respectively received in the first and second barrels 22, 31, and are secured to each other through fastening means 7. The first grip part 4 is mounted rotatably to the first barrel 22, and includes a semicircular first rail 41, a first connecting plate 42 axially extending from the first rail 41 into the first barrel 22, and a pair of spaced engaging hooks 43 extending from the first connecting plate 42. The second grip part 5 is mounted rotatably to the second barrel 31, and includes a semicircular second rail 51, a second connecting plate 52 axially extending from the second rail 51 into the second barrel 31, and a pair of spaced engaging grooves 53 extending from the second connecting plate 52 for respectively engaging the engaging hooks 43 in a tongue-and-groove manner. It should be noted that the number of the engaging hooks 43 and the engaging grooves 53 is not limited to two as disclosed herein. The first and second barrels 22, 31 are mounted slidingly and respectively on the first and second rails 41, 51.

The preferred embodiment further includes an operating lever 6 (see FIGS. 1 and 9) mounted to the first flange 23 of the first reel half 2 for wire-winding operation.

FIGS. 3 to 8, in combination with FIG. 1, illustrate the consecutive steps of how the first and second reel halves 2, 3 are assembled. During assembly, the second barrel 31 is inserted into the first barrel 22 through one end 221 of the first barrel 22 (see FIGS. 3 to 6), the first barrel 22 is then rotated from the first angular position to the second angular position (see FIGS. 5 to 8), and the first and second grip parts 4, 5 are subsequently received in the first and second barrels 22, 31, respectively, and are secured to each other by extending the engaging hooks 43 respectively into the engaging grooves 53 and by engaging threadedly with the fastening means 7.

The inner surface of the first barrel 22 is further formed with three slots 246 for insertion of the arm parts 312, respectively (see FIGS. 10 and 11). Each of the slots 246 is disposed at an opposite side of a respective one of the guiding ribs 241 opposite to the inner ribs 242. Hence, when the wire reel assembly of this invention is not in use and is to be stored, the first and second reel halves 2, 3 can be detached from each other, and the second barrel 31 can then be inserted into the first barrel 22 through the other end 222 of the first barrel 22 opposite to the end 221 of the first barrel 22 such that the arm parts 312 are received respectively in the slots 246 and that the first and second flanges 23, 32 are brought close to each other, thereby reducing the volume of the wire reel assembly.

With the first barrel 22 sleeved on the second barrel 31 and the engagement between the first and second engaging members 24, 33, the aforesaid drawback associated with the prior art can be eliminated.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiment but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements. 

1. A wire reel assembly comprising: a wire reel defining an axis and including first and second reel halves which have axially extending first and second barrels and first and second flanges extending radially and outwardly from said first and second barrels, respectively, said first and second barrels being coaxially aligned along the axis, said first barrel having an inner surface that is formed with a first engaging member protruding radially and inwardly therefrom, said second barrel having an outer surface that is formed with a second engaging member protruding radially and outwardly therefrom, said first barrel being sleeved on and rotatable relative to said second barrel between a first angular position, in which said first and second engaging members disengage each other, and a second angular position, in which said first and second engaging members engage each other.
 2. The wire reel assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inner surface of said first barrel is formed with a plurality of inner ribs protruding radially and inwardly therefrom, displaced angularly from each other, and cooperatively defining said first engaging member, each of said inner ribs being formed with a retaining recess, said second barrel having an annular base part and a plurality of arm parts extending axially from said annular base part and displaced angularly from each other, each of said arm parts having a free end that is formed with an outer rib protruding radially and outwardly therefrom, said outer rib having a first circumferential end which is formed with a retaining protrusion protruding axially therefrom, said outer ribs of said arm parts cooperatively defining said second engaging member, said retaining protrusion of each of said outer ribs engaging said recess in a respective one of said inner ribs when said first barrel is disposed at the second angular position.
 3. The wire reel assembly as claimed in claim 2, wherein said inner surface of said first barrel is further formed with a plurality of guiding ribs protruding radially and inwardly therefrom and disposed alternately with and axially spaced apart from said inner ribs, said outer ribs being respectively in sliding contact with said guiding ribs when said first barrel is disposed at the first angular position.
 4. The wire reel assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein each of said inner ribs has opposite first and second circumferential ends, said recess being disposed adjacent to said first circumferential end, said second circumferential end of each of said inner ribs being formed with a stopper protruding axially therefrom, each of said outer ribs further having a second circumferential end opposite to said first circumferential end of the respective one of said outer ribs and abutting against said stopper of a respective one of said inner ribs when said first barrel is disposed at the second angular position.
 5. The wire reel assembly as claimed in claim 4, wherein said inner surface of said first barrel is further formed with a plurality of slots for insertion of said arm parts, respectively, each of said slots being disposed at an opposite side of a respective one of said guiding ribs opposite to said inner ribs.
 6. The wire reel assembly as claimed in claim 4, further comprising first and second grip parts that are respectively received in said first and second barrels and that are secured to each other. 